Jiffy reefing. Sooo, how?

[Zoomie]

How are the Reefing lines arranged for the DAMCo mast and boom 222 boats? I have a single reef point on the main along with a row of unknown re-enforced tabs in a line along the same plane of the sail. There is a pin that the clew is attached to and also a hook just to one side of the clew attaching point. I understand why to reef but don't understand the procedure. On my equipment there is a block mounted about 12-14 inches from the aft end of the boom as well as a small cleat further forward. There is also a small cleat on the mast maybe 6-10 inches below the height of the boom mounted somewhat off center (may have no involvement in reefing). I have a 1/4" line purchased thru Rudy. Can someone explain step by step how it all works together (knots,employment, lines, routing etc.?)

 

[Joe11688]

How are the Reefing lines arranged for the DAMCo mast and boom 222 boats? I have a single reef point on the main along with a row of unknown re-enforced tabs in a line along the same plane of the sail. There is a pin that the clew is attached to and also a hook just to one side of the clew attaching point. I understand why to reef but don't understand the procedure. On my equipment there is a block mounted about 12-14 inches from the aft end of the boom as well as a small cleat further forward. There is also a small cleat on the mast maybe 6-10 inches below the height of the boom mounted somewhat off center (may have no involvement in reefing). I have a 1/4" line purchased thru Rudy. Can someone explain step by step how it all works together (knots,employment, lines, routing etc.?)

I have Z-Spar internal halyards which is a little different than the Damco external halyard system. I also have a topping lift and a winch on the side of the mast. I can only tell you how I reef my main sail. The first thing that I do when I reef my sail is to take up on the topping lift. This prevents the boom from dropping when you let the sail down. If your sail is already down, you should release the last sail slug out of the mast and put in your sail stop to prevent the rest of the slugs from falling out. Leaving this sail slide in puts too much tension on the luff near the new foot of the sail, so you should always take it out of the track. Then you insert the reefing ring of the sail luff on the horn of the goose neck and pull on the reefing line. You may need to make sure that the new foot of the sail is forming right. The reefing line should pull the new clew of the sail out, and also keep the new foot of the sail close to the boom. Your sail should have at least three reefing points. The reefing points consists of 1/4" cotton ropes which are held in place by knots on both sides of the sail. You'll need to roll up the excess sail and tie it in place with the reef points with slipped half hitches. If you have sail slides on the foot of your main sail, you should insert your ropes between the top of the boom and the foot of the sail. If you don't have sail slides on the foot, you'll need to tie the loose sail by passing the ropes under the boom. All that is left is to raise the sail and let the topping lift off. If the sail is up and you need to reef, just take up on the topping lift, lower the sail just enough so that the reefing earing ring is even with the horn, remove the last sail slide, put the reefing earing ring on the horn, pull on the reefing line, pull the Mainsail back up and let off the topping lift. All that remains is to roll the sail and tie it off. To shake out the reef you would do everything opposite. The first picture shows my sail reefed the knots are on the other side of the sail. For a sail stop, I use 15" piece of 1/4" rope tied over the mast winch and under the last sail slide with a slipped half hitch. It's the best sail stop that I've found for my set up. My reefing line goes through my boom out the back and through a sheave at the end of my boom. The line goes straight up and through reefing cringle, and comes out the other side and goes down to an eye strap under the boom near the back of the boom. Yours probably travels on the outside of your boom. After you've done this a few times it becomes very easy.
Joe

 

[Zoomie]

My boom has an eye at the aft end close to the top, with the orifice nearly vertical. When purchased It was being used to attach the pigtail from the Aft stay (poor mans topping lift). Should I just place a loop of line thru the eye around the boom thru the reefing cringle,utilize the sheave then to the cleat on the boom? I tried posting some photos with no luck.

 

[Joe11688]

My boom has an eye at the aft end close to the top, with the orifice nearly vertical. When purchased It was being used to attach the pigtail from the Aft stay (poor mans topping lift). Should I just place a loop of line thru the eye around the boom thru the reefing cringle,utilize the sheave then to the cleat on the boom? I tried posting some photos with no luck.

I hate those pig tail topping lifts. I'd get rid of it and install a regular topping lift. You're going to have to decide what type of topping lift to install. Check out some sailboats in your area to see what they are using and pick out something to install on your mast and boom. My topping lift is controlled right at the goose neck of my boat along with the reefing line and clew out haul. Try dead ending the reefing line from the cringle on the sail, at that eye strap with a figure 8 stopper knot. Then put the luff cringle on the goose neck horn and pull on the reefing line. If it's set up right, the sail should pull out--and down against the boom. The eye strap needs to be close enough to pull the sail down against the boom and still be able to stretch the foot of the sail out.